Search smh:

Search in:

University manager in Sydney corrupt: ICAC

A university manager could face prosecution, with NSW's corruption watchdog finding that he solicited $225,000 in cash, travel and gifts from suppliers.

Nabil Faysal corruptly received the money and benefits between 2006 and 2011 when head of engineering services at the University of Technology (UTS) Facilities Management Office in Sydney, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said in a statement on Tuesday.

He allegedly solicited and received $119,000 of the money through his family company from UTS contractors Cady, KB Electronics, Rega Controls and Mr Wayne Hood.

The funds were "disguised as payment for work carried out, or goods supplied by Mr Faysal that he did not do or supply," the ICAC found.

Advertisement

During those years, all four contractors invoiced UTS for a total of $17.8 million for work they performed for the university.

No corruption findings were made against the three companies which gave "full and frank evidence" but the ICAC found Mr Hood engaged in corrupt conduct by providing money to Mr Faysal.

The remaining monies paid to Mr Faysal were in the form of $41,000 in overseas travel from Rega Controls for himself and his family.

Another UTS supplier, Targetti Australia, provided overseas travel to him worth $61,000, the ICAC found, and elsewhere, he accepted an Apple iPad and a chair worth about $2500.

Faysal also undertook private work for Webster Wagner Engineering, a company interested in performing work for UTS, and deliberately failed to disclose the conflict of interest.

In 2010, he was investigated and counselled by the university for breaches to its policies.

He was suspended but, when he returned to the area in which he worked, a major restructure created opportunities for him to influence UTS staff to direct work to companies able to provide him personal benefits.

The university sacked him in April 2012 but he launched proceedings with Fair Work Australia against his dismissal.

"The ICAC is of the opinion that the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions should be obtained with respect to the prosecution of Mr Faysal for offences of soliciting and receiving corrupt benefits," the ICAC said.

The corruption watchdog also recommended UTS strengthen its procurement practices.